Skin Anti-Aging Efficacy of Enzyme-Treated Supercritical Caviar Extract: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Oxidative stress in the skin, induced by an unhealthy lifestyle and exposure to UVB radiation, leads to skin aging, including reduced elasticity, formation of wrinkles, moisture loss, and inflammation. In a previous study, we revealed the photoaging effects of enzyme-treated caviar extract (CV) by regulating collagen and hyaluronic acid synthase, melanogenesis, anti-oxidant mechanisms, and inflammation in a UVB irradiation-induced mice model. HPLC and MALDI-TOF were performed to determine the effect of enzyme treatment on the free amino acid contents and peptide molecular weight in supercritical caviar extract. As results of the analysis, CV is mainly composed of low-molecular-weight peptides consisting of leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Based on our in vitro and in vivo study, we conducted a clinical trial to assess the skin anti-aging efficacy of CV. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we measured indicators related to elasticity, wrinkles, and skin hydration at 4 and 8 weeks after consumption of CV. The subjects were categorized into caviar, combination, and placebo groups. After 4 weeks, skin hydration, dermal hydration, and transepidermal water loss all showed significant improvement. Furthermore, after 8 weeks, skin elasticity indexes-R2 (total elasticity), R5 (net elasticity), and R7 (ratio of elastic recovery to total deformation)-exhibited significant increases. Improvement in wrinkle indicators (Rmax, Ra, and Rz) and the whitening indicator melanin pigment was also observed. This is the first report showing that CV has significant skin anti-aging efficacy on human skin. In conclusion, our study suggests that CV can be used as skin anti-aging nutraceuticals through positive effects on skin condition in clinical trials.

Keywords: caviar; skin anti-aging; skin elasticity; skin hydration; skin whitening; skin wrinkles.

Figure 1

Mechanism of skin anti-aging efficacy of enzyme-treated caviar extract.

Figure 2

Consort flow diagram of enrolled participants in a randomized study evaluating enzymatically treated caviar extracts.

Figure 3

MALDI-TOF mass spectra of enzyme-treated caviar extract.

Figure 4

Effects of CV on skin hydration, dermal hydration, and change of hydration. (A) Measurement of skin hydration, (B) change of skin hydration, (C) measurement of dermal hydration, (D) change of dermal hydration (E) TEWL value and (F) change of TEWL in caviar, combination and placebo group at 4 and 8 weeks. * Compared within a group (** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001) with Wilcoxon signed rank test. ^# compared to placebo group (^## p < 0.01 and ^### p < 0.001) with Mann–Whitney test.

Figure 5

Effects of CV on skin elasticity. (A) R2, overall elasticity, (B) change rate of skin elasticity (R2), (C) R5, the net elasticity, (D) change rate of skin elasticity (R5), (E) R7, elastic recovery to total deformation, (F) change rate of skin elasticity (R7) with administration of caviar, combination, or placebo for 4 weeks and 8 weeks. * Compared within a group (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001) with Wilcoxon signed rank test. ^# compared to placebo group (^## p < 0.01 and ^### p < 0.001) with Mann–Whitney test.

Figure 6

Effects of CV on Skin wrinkles. (A) High-resolution skin photos using Mark-Vu (B) Melanin index and (C) change of melanin index (D) Ra value, average roughness, (E) change in skin wrinkle Ra (F) Rmax value, maximum peak-to-valley distance, (G) change in skin wrinkle Rmax, (H) Rz value, average maximum height of the profile and (I) change in skin wrinkle Rz of the caviar, combination, and placebo group for 4 and 8 weeks. Bar represents skin wrinkles, and arrows represent liver spots. * Compared within a group (* p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01 and *** p < 0.001) with Wilcoxon signed rank test. ^# compared to placebo group (^# p < 0.05, ^## p < 0.01 and ^### p < 0.001) with Mann–Whitney test.